[Meta is ending its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, a decision that comes as the company faces pressure from conservative critics and customers. The move is being made in response to changes in the legal and policy landscape, particularly a shift in how courts will approach DEI efforts.
According to a company memo, the DEI team will be eliminated and equity and inclusion programs will be replaced with new initiatives that focus on mitigating bias and promoting fair and consistent practices for all employees. The company will no longer require managers to source candidates from underrepresented groups, and efforts to hire minority-owned vendors and suppliers will end.
Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared on the Joe Rogan podcast, saying he has been working on these changes for a long time. He expressed a new perspective on free speech, having been influenced by the 2016 presidential election and pressure from the Biden administration to moderate Covid-19 misinformation on social media.
Zuckerberg believes that fact-checking and content moderation destroyed trust in the platform and that he feels the company is now heading in the right direction.
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